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Create a rebuilding authority and fire control district, expert panel urges in post-LA fires report
Construction workers begin to rebuild a business destroyed by the Palisades Fire.
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Justin Sullivan
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Topline:
Spurred by January's devastating fires, a group of experts and researchers have published a raft of suggestions for rebuilding sustainably and resiliently.
First big takeaway: The panel of disaster response engineers, financiers and UCLA researchers suggest creating two new governmental structures in their 172-page report. The first is a resilient rebuilding authority, which would be focused on helping affected residents and business owners rebuild with fire-resistant tools. The other is a new fire control district, which would work on reducing fire risk through planting California-native vegetation or creating “defensive” buffer zones that can slow or stop the spread of wildfires.
Second big takeaway: The report also highlighted suggestions for immediate and long-term recovery, such as replanting burned areas, reforming insurance models, upgrading water systems and promoting energy resilience, including all-electric construction.
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What’s next? The commission was put together to advise policymakers and community members on the rebuilding process. L.A. County Supervisor Lindsey P. Horvath, who put together this commission, said this plan can serve as a roadmap for legislators going forward.
Go deeper: Read the report.
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